Balboa Mist vs Willow
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Balboa Mist reads as beige-greige, while Willow reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Balboa Mist (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Willow (LRV 9), a difference of 56 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean red, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 52.0, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Balboa Mist vs Willow in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Balboa Mist and Willow in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Balboa Mist returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Balboa Mist reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Willow.
Color Details
Balboa Mist vs Willow Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balboa Mist on one side and Willow on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Balboa Mist comparisons
See how Balboa Mist stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
